Were You Injured in a Car Accident in Louisville But the Negligent Driver Is Not Insured? Don’t Give Up Now: Find Out What You Can Do Under Kentucky Laws and Where to Go for Legal Help
Being injured in a car accident is stressful enough, but finding out the at-fault driver does not have insurance can certainly add to the overwhelming equation. In Louisville, many injured car accident victims may think that they have no options and will be stuck paying their own medical bills and vehicle repairs if the negligent or otherwise at-fault driver who injured them has no insurance. However, the good news is that under Kentucky laws, injured car accident victims still have ways to recover compensation even when the negligent or at-fault driver is uninsured. Understanding your rights can help you take the next step with confidence. To help Louisville car accident victims know more about their rights under Kentucky laws, we explain how car accident claims work in Louisville when the at-fault driver is uninsured.
Kentucky Law Protects Car Accident Victims, Even if the At-Fault Driver is Uninsured
At the outset, it is important for Louisville car accident victims to know that Kentucky is a “no-fault” insurance state. In addition, under Kentucky laws, your own insurance policy is required to provide Personal Injury Protection benefits (often referred to as “PIP”), which are limited benefits that cover some medical expenses and some lost wages regardless of who caused the car accident. This is typically a Louisville car accident victim’s first layer of protection if the negligent or at-fault driver has no insurance. A Louisville car accident victim can use their PIP benefits right away to help with treatment costs after the car accident happens. However, the amount of PIP benefits is often well-exceeded by the actual cost to the victim.
Many drivers in Kentucky also carry uninsured motorist coverage, sometimes called “UM coverage.” This is optional, but most insurance companies offer it, and many Kentucky drivers choose to include it. UM coverage protects you when the other driver has no insurance or flees the scene. Under Kentucky insurance laws, your UM coverage can pay for medical costs, lost income, and pain-and-suffering damages you would normally claim from the at-fault driver. Even though you are filing through your own insurance company, the claim is still based on the other driver’s negligence.
If your damages are higher than your PIP and UM coverage limits, you may still have other options. You can file a lawsuit in Louisville court against the uninsured driver who injured you. Kentucky law allows car accident victims to sue negligent drivers for bodily injury and property damage. There is no question that figuring out how you can get compensation after being injured by an uninsured driver is confusing, and speaking with an experienced Louisville uninsured driver accident lawyer is the best way to determine whether you are entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses, and how much.
Getting Legal Help in Louisville with Your Louisville Uninsured Driver Accident Case
If you are in the Louisville area and you need legal help with your car accident case, and you suspect or know that the other driver does not have insurance, do not hesitate to get in touch with the experienced Louisville uninsured driver accident lawyers at Haney Law, PLLC. Contact Haney Law, PLLC today and speak with a lawyer about your case now.
Source:
insurance.ky.gov/ppc/newstatic_info.aspx?static_id=24